It's Here!

On Wednesday morning I got a call from the shipping/delivery company saying they had a package for me. "I think it's a bike," said the guy over the phone, "and it's really big, but not that heavy." I confirmed that it was my Madsen cargo bike and told him I would indeed be home for the next two hours.




The guys were so nice. It was really snowing out and I had no idea it would arrive so quickly, Don and I didn't really have a chance to clear out space in the garage for it. We're still working on a tidy and chic way of storing all of the bikes we already have. Work in progress.




I certainly didn't want him leaving it out on the sidewalk in the wet snow, so I ventured to inquire whether he would be willing to help me get it into the house. It was one guy, a dolly, and me steering the box. Easily done! Thanks, delivery dude.




One of the most exciting things is how monolithic the box is. Some of my students were beside themselves with enthusiasm over the different things that huge cardboard box could be imagined into. That's what I like to see, by the way, kids excited about big boxes:) Makes me think that even though the toys and cartoons are different, that kids still have a penchant to use their imagination to create and play.




It sat in its box for 24 hours because Don and I were both too busy to drag it out. Yesterday we unveiled it, and it was the talk of the evening. Every single one of my students on Wednesday asked me why my bike had a bathtub on it. And every one of my students on Thursday proceeded to climb into the cargo bin and continue telling their parents, "we should get one of these!"

Even though I haven't ridden it yet, the most heartwarming thing for me is to see the kids excited about riding in the bike. The excitement and enthusiasm was absolutely brimming from both the kids and parents alike. The last two days have been a chorus of, "what a great idea!" and, "I wish I had one of these!"

Just the bike sitting in my living room has sparked countless conversations about living healthy lifestyles, and putting your kids into the local school, and how having a baby or a few kids shouldn't necessarily mean being a prisoner in a minivan. That's one of the most exciting things about this cargo bike, that it ignites something in people that is joyful and elementary. There's a joie de vivre about riding a bike that is so addictive (those of you who read this blog and ride yourselves know exactly what I'm talking about), and that's the feeling that I'm trying to get other people to experience. I think the Madsen is going to open up a whole new world of people interested in cycling while looking good. You've heard me say it once and you'll hear me say it again, biking is both practical and stylish...

Dialogue. That's it! The Madsen sparks a lot of healthy and exciting dialogue. From what I can tell about the past few days of people reacting to it, it's forcing people to think and reconceptualize transportation. Even when I'm just biking solo on the Pashley most people think it's possible because I'm some eccentric young person and that once I grow up it will be a thing of the past. Well... I'm not THAT young (fingers crossed that I age gracefully like my mama) and really, the bicycle has been around for over a century now. It's not going anywhere.

So why a cargo bike and not a trailer? I have a trailer. It's in my garage. Dexter is too slouchy to sit in it and I'm not going to wait a year before I can bike with my kid. And then when I have another kid I'm not going to wait ANOTHER year before I can bike again. No thanks. Do you guys realize that with all the pressure on pregnant women and moms, combined with all the fear mongering around kids and safety... that a woman who wants to have a few kids won't be permitted on a bicycle for anywhere from 2-5 years (if you take into account not riding while pregnant and then having a few years in between kids). That's so... unfair.

Don is going to do a little bit of DIY so that we can use the Madsen's built in seatbelts to strap down Dexter's car seat base. Then the car seat will click in, just like in a regular motor vehicle. And Dexter can ride in it, rear facing, until he is big enough to sit up on his own. From all the research I've been doing I believe this will be both safe and legal. Since I'll be a bigger load I also don't plan to ride with Dexter in the Madsen the same way and the same routes I currently take when I am on my own. I'll take more paths and lanes.

I will probably get a bobike (they're not very expensive) and put it on the Amsterdam so when Dexter is older and I don't want to take the big bike, we can just travel light with the two of us. I say the Amsterdam because the handlebars are wider on that bike, and I sit further away from them so there would be more room for my arms to wrap around a front mount seat. I also hear that the bobike seats are easy to pop off, so when I don't want it on my bike I can just take it off.

The other question I'm getting is why I chose the Madsen over the Nihola or a Bakfiets. Mostly it was accessibility. None of my local bike places are stocking ANY kind of cargo bike suitable for kids yet (maybe this will change when the demand for this sort of bike increases). Shipping a bakfiets here from Vancouver or a nihola here from Toronto wasn't really much different than shipping a Madsen up from the States. The dutch ones are really heavy (not so much an issue I'm concerned about with riding it, more a concern with the price of shipping). And expensive.

The Madsen is a good 40 pounds lighter than the bakfiets. I like that the cargo is on the back, and in a plastic bucket that can be hosed down. I like that it is adaptable for somebody small like me or tall like Don. And the price is very competitive. You guys may not have noticed, but I have a lot of bikes and none of them are from Wal-Mart or Canadian Tire. On a practical note, my budget for more bikes isn't what it used to be after investing in things like the Pashley and my custom Marinoni. Plus, from what I read online, the Madsen, though not built to the same degree of unwavering quality as its more traditional dutch counterparts, can still certainly fulfill its role and pull its weight, so to speak.

Also, if I use the Madsen for a few years and decide I want something different, then I can upgrade later. When I say upgrade, I mean get something more hard core and expensive. Not having ridden any cargo bike to speak of, I'm not really in a position to say what I like the best. And as you might already know, liking a bike and the way it rides, regardless the price point, is a really personal thing.




One last point on the Madsen for now. The people over there were really helpful and friendly to the Canadian girl needing to ship one of their bikes across the border. I know it seems like an obvious point, but good customer service is sometimes really hard to come by. I appreciate it greatly when I get to experience what it's like when somebody is genuinely interested in helping me out.

Here's Dougal, skeptical of the new arrival and wondering if it will get more attention than him. Border terrier be projecting...





And although Dexter will certainly NOT be sitting in the bike this way when it's actually moving, I thought it was cute for a photo op. He looks confused:)







I wanted to see how big his car seat was in relation to the bucket so I just stuck it in between the benches. When we get the actual rig set up I believe his seat will be rear facing, upon a sturdy platform with holes in it for the seatbelts to loop through, and right behind the saddle. There will still be enough room for somebody to sit on the bench across from the car seat (and room for cargo underneath).




Finally, I must thank you readers immensely for pointing me in the right direction in terms of cargo bikes and all things related to biking with Dexter. Many of you have been so supportive and helpful. It was a reader that suggested the Madsen bike to me in the first place, or I never would have known about it (or any other cargo bike for that matter). And one of you fine persons directed me to Tot Cycle where the guy over there totally retrofitted his Madsen to accommodate his family's new baby. Although we're not going to use the exact same method he did, it was really helpful in my lobby to Don in buying another bike. Don is very concerned that we transport Dexter safely (as am I) and legally. We're not trying to be difficult members of society, but there aren't a lot of options for getting around with a more wobbly infant. We want as much as the next person for Dexter to be safe and comfortable when going places. We just don't think that means having to drive the car.

So thank you, select readers, for your help in this matter. I'm so excited for the next chapter in my cycling, avec family! And I am deeply appreciative of the care and regard my online bike-family has provided.